There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Chapter 32.1

After Friday night’s heavy rainstorm, Saturday morning dawned bright and clear, with a pristine blue sky.

Qin Ke woke up early as usual.

After washing up and having breakfast, while the Qin parents and Qin Yan were still asleep, she had already gone upstairs to her desk and started her morning self-study session.

—

Although she had the foundation and intelligence from her previous life, math competitions were an unfamiliar field for Qin Ke, so she didn’t dare to be careless – both the competition prize money and the potential university admission opportunity that winning could bring were very important to her.

Perhaps due to her experiences in her previous life, Qin Ke could easily focus and get into the zone quickly. Far from the playfulness and restlessness of her peers, concentration was the primary factor in her achieving excellent results.

The morning passed quickly.

Around 11:30 AM, Qin Ke’s door was impatiently knocked from the outside–

“Lunch is ready.”

Qin Yan’s cold and slightly resentful voice rang out unwillingly.

Since their argument two days ago, Qin Yan and the Qin parents had completely stopped hiding their malice towards Qin Ke these past two days. Qin Ke could see that they were trying to force her to submit and concede, or even actively apologize to them, through this cold violence.

Sitting at her desk, Qin Ke smiled coldly and closed her book.

…Keep dreaming.

Gu Xinqing had called her last night to say that she had already contacted several suitable tutoring families. She could go for “interviews” as early as next week. As long as she passed, she would have a guaranteed source of income.

By that time, she would move out of this house as soon as possible.

Thinking this, Qin Ke composed herself and got up to leave the room.

When she went downstairs and entered the dining room, the family of three had already started eating. When Qin Ke came over and greeted them, only Qin Hanyi slightly raised his eyelids in response.

Qin Ke’s expression remained unchanged as she calmly sat down in her seat and began to eat.

The three of them talked amongst themselves, not engaging with Qin Ke.

Halfway through the meal, Qin Yan lightly kicked her mother Yin Chuanfang’s foot under the table, then gave her a meaningful look when she looked up.

Yin Chuanfang understood Qin Yan’s signal and turned to Qin Ke.

“Cough, Xiao Ke, you don’t have anything to do this afternoon, right? If not, come with me to the supermarket–we need to buy some groceries.”

Qin Ke’s chopsticks paused.

After a moment, without looking up, she said, “I made plans in advance with Teacher Huo from our school to see an art exhibition. I won’t have time this afternoon.”

Qin Yan quickly gave Yin Chuanfang another meaningful look.

Yin Chuanfang frowned, “An art exhibition? With your school teacher? You’re just a first-year high school student, why are you getting involved in such messy things? Focusing on your studies is more important, don’t you know?”

“…”

Seeing Qin Ke remain silent, Yin Chuanfang’s expression turned cold, “We don’t usually ask you to do anything, and you can’t even spare one afternoon to accompany me this time?”

“Tomorrow is Sunday, I can do it then,” Qin Ke looked up, her gaze sharp and cold. “Today is not possible.”

“…!”

Though the girl’s tone wasn’t particularly harsh, Yin Chuanfang was momentarily stunned by her look, unable to speak for several seconds.

When she came to her senses and wanted to say more, she saw Qin Ke put down her chopsticks.

“I’m finished eating. I’m going back to my room now.”

Yin Chuanfang was furious and slammed her chopsticks down.

“Come back here, did you hear me!”

“…”

Qin Ke went upstairs without looking back.

Even after returning to her room, she could still hear Yin Chuanfang’s loud curses from downstairs.

Qin Ke’s eyes were as dark as a rainy night sky.

She stood expressionless for a long time before taking out her phone and looking down at it.

—

That day when she came out of the bathroom, she felt like someone had been in her room… It wasn’t just her imagination after all.

Either Qin Yan or Yin Chuanfang, at least one of them must have been in her room.

Most likely it was Qin Yan.

That’s why she wanted to use Yin Chuanfang to prevent her from meeting Huo Jingyan, or even have Yin Chuanfang detain her so she could take her place.

Qin Ke would never give them such an opportunity.

She checked the time once more, then immediately packed her bag and left the Qin house at the first opportunity.

Even when she was far from the house, Qin Ke could still hear Qin Yan’s annoyed voice and Yin Chuanfang’s curses coming from that small courtyard.

****

The meeting place Qin Ke and Huo Jingyan later agreed on was at Qiancheng’s Art Plaza.

Even though the original time was set for 2:30 PM, Qin Ke had left home early and arrived at 1:45 PM.

It was a weekend, and with the art exhibition happening, the area around the Art Plaza was packed with people.

Qin Ke struggled quite a bit before finally finding the ginkgo tree near the wishing pool that Huo Jingyan had mentioned.

There was a long bench under the tree. When Qin Ke arrived, a mother and son were already sitting there. Seemingly tired from walking around the Art Plaza, the young mother was holding onto her restless little boy. Seeing Qin Ke come and sit down, the young mother gave her a slight smile.

Qin Ke naturally smiled back.

“Lin Lin, say hello to the big sister,” the young mother urged, gesturing towards Qin Ke with her son.